Trump’s Peace Agreement Creates New Rift Among Israeli Right-Wingers
Trump’s Peace Agreement Creates New Rift Among Israeli Right-Wingers
According to the Irangate News Agency, Donald Trump’s recent visit to Israel for the Gaza agreement celebration was a scene of widespread welcome and simultaneous deep political divisions in the country. While the government and many parliament members appreciated his role in stopping the war and freeing hostages, the far-right faction criticized the agreement’s terms, calling it a concession to the Palestinians and warning about its consequences for the future of settlements.
Internal Israeli Reactions to Donald Trump’s Visit and the Gaza Agreement
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel to participate in a ceremony marking the signing of the Gaza agreement.
This agreement, aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip and releasing hostages, was signed between the involved parties. Trump’s presence was met with widespread welcome from various sections of Israel’s political scene.
The Knesset building was lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag, and parliament members gave a standing ovation for over two minutes upon his arrival. A large image of Trump’s face was also displayed on the Tel Aviv beach.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced at the ceremony that the country’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Honor, would be awarded to Trump.
However, the ceremony faced opposition from a number of far-right parliament members. Limor Son Har-Melech, a parliament member, announced a day before the ceremony that she would not attend.
In a statement, she wrote that President Trump called this agreement peace, but it is not. This agreement is unjust. Har-Melech has been a main supporter of the plan to resettle Jews in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023 attacks, and had previously asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make the return of Jewish settlements to Gaza a war objective.
Public polls in Israel show that the majority of citizens do not support the expansionist plans in Gaza. Nevertheless, the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu was largely dependent on the support of the far-right faction during the war.
While the prolonged conflicts had increased the influence of this group, the cessation of the war due to the new agreement has weakened their political position.
Trump, who had previously spoken of ideas like the complete reconstruction of Gaza, unveiled new positions with his twenty-point plan. This plan rejects any Israeli territorial claims over the Gaza Strip and emphasizes the right of Palestinian residents to remain.
In the twelfth point of this plan, Trump stated that no one will be forced to leave Gaza; those who wish to stay are free to do so.
This change in stance has created significant dissatisfaction among Israeli right-wing politicians, especially after Trump announced on September 25 that the United States opposes any annexation of the West Bank.
According to informed sources, allied Arab countries of the U.S. had warned that such an action could threaten the agreements known as the Abraham Accords.
Four days later, Trump officially presented his peace plan, and the parties, including the Israeli government and Hamas, accepted it under international pressure.
This process caused dissatisfaction among a part of the ruling coalition in Israel, who expected U.S. policies under Trump to fully align with their desires.
Despite the relative cessation of conflicts in some areas of Gaza, scattered clashes continue.
Reports indicate that extremist groups on both sides are trying to delay the implementation of the agreement.
Experts believe the success of this plan largely depends on Trump’s role in simultaneously managing two fronts: pressuring Hamas’s regional supporters, including Qatar and Turkey, to fulfill commitments, and convincing Netanyahu’s government to control settlement activities.
Political analysts in Israel believe Prime Minister Netanyahu is in a complex position. His main goal in the current situation is to maintain political power, and his decisions are mostly based on this consideration.
While far-right factions demand the continuation of expansionist policies, international pressures and the need for U.S. support have compelled Netanyahu to moderate somewhat.
Overall, the future of the Gaza agreement and Israel’s role in its implementation largely depends on the continued influence of Trump on Netanyahu’s policies and the approach of the ruling coalition.
Experts say that the management of these relations could determine the future path of Israel’s political stability and the peace process in the region.
